Traffic Accidents Up, But Arrests Down

October 21, 1999

BRISTOL — The number of traffic accidents for the first nine months of the year is up considerably over the same period last year, but the number of arrests for moving violations is down, the police commission was told Tuesday night.

``Accidents are up and enforcement is down. We're dealing with it,'' said Police Chief John DiVenere, declining to explain publicly why he thinks his officers are handing out fewer tickets.

According to the monthly traffic report received by the police commission, 1,581 accidents were reported from January through September. During the same period last year, police investigated 1,492 accidents.

Officers made 1,873 arrests for moving violations through September, down from 2,827 during the same period last year. Written warnings are up, however, this year -- rising from 4,344 during the first nine months of 1998 to 4,861 through September of this year.

``It is a major concern,'' DiVenere said of the trend, which he vowed to correct.

Four people have died in crashes in Bristol so far this year, and 561 have been injured.